Non-viral gene delivery utilizing RALA modulates sFlt-1 secretion, important for preeclampsia

Overexpression of sFlt-1 or modulation of FKBPL, key antiangiogenic proteins, are important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. A newly developed nonviral gene-delivery system, RALA, capable of overexpressing sFlt-1 (e15a isoform) was delivered in transgenic haploinsufficient ( ) mice. RALA was also used to deliver human Flt1 (hFlt1) in trophoblast cells. Serum stable and nontoxic RALA/DNA-based nanoparticles induced an increase in sFlt-1 protein levels in the blood and total protein in the urine; the effect was more pronounced in mice. , RALA-hFlt nanoparticles significantly reduced secretion of sFlt-1 in trophoblast cells. The RALA-based genetic nanodelivery system can be safely and effectively applied to emulate preeclampsia-like features or reduce sFlt-1 levels . In this study, the investigators utilized a safe and effective approach to modulate an important circulating protein in pregnancy, sFlt-1, associated with the pregnancy complication, preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a complex and multifactorial disease and a leading cause of death in pregnancy with no current effective treatment strategies. This is likely due to a lack of reliable preclinical models that replicate human disease. The authors demonstrate the feasibility of a new preeclampsia-like model based on the dysfunction of two key vascular proteins, sFlt-1 and FKBPL (an important protein involved in the development of new blood vessels), that could be utilized in the future for testing and development of new treatments targeting these important mechanisms in preeclampsia. Development of a new model of #preeclampsia using a serum-stable and safe nonviral gene delivery system, #RALA, to modulate #sFlt-1 secretion in #FKBPL knockdown mice or #trophoblasts .